On Oct. 23 it was an ordinary day for 65-year-old Cindi Toepel. The Pahrump resident awoke, ate breakfast and then went to work.
That’s where her work day differs from the majority of most people living in the valley.
Toepel ran seven miles, rode 20 miles and swam one mile through 12-foot waves, winning the Xterra World Championship on the Hawaiian Island of Maui for her division.
“I love to compete and I am a competitive person,” she said. “I love being able to get by people in a race. I push myself to get by a person even if they are not in my division. It’s a thrill to me, along with being on the podium. I have won the Xterra World Championship competition seven times.”
Toepel is an off-road triathlon competitor in the 65-to-69-year-old division. Although she does not compete at the pro level, but she works professionally as a triathlon coach.
Toepel has been biking since she was six. She started road biking when she was 35 and didn’t start mountain biking until she was 52. When she was 50 she did her first Ironman, where the bike ride is 112 miles, the swim is 2.4 miles and the run is 26 miles.
The Xterras are less distance, a one-mile swim, 20-mile bike ride and seven-mile run.
“It may be less distance but they are not easier,” Toepel said. “There is a 3,500-foot elevation gain in the mountain biking course.”
She has been doing the Xterras since 2003.
Toepel said doing triathlons has been a big part of her, and her husband Circ Toepel, life since they met.
“I have been married for 35 years and I did triathlons with my husband in the 80s,” she said. “We have both been athletic most of our lives. He no longer runs, due to his back being fused, but he still rides.”
The couple mountain bike together when Cindi is not competing.
“We love mountain biking in Colorado and have been to Fruita a lot,” she said. “One reason we moved to Nevada was because of all the BLM land to explore. We love to travel around and discover places to ride.”
Toepel has not slowed down since getting older. She does seven of the Xterra-type competitions each year.
“I do have the energy but I have found as I have aged that it takes more time for my body to recover,” Cindi Toepel said. “I coach other athletes on how to compete, and it helps me because I am always thinking about what I have to do to keep going.”
Cindi Toepel loves the adrenalin rush and does it for the love of the sport.
As she aged, she has found out what her body can do under triathlon conditions. She said she learned through trial and error. Some days are better than others at her age.
That’s where her work day differs from the majority of most people living in the valley.
Toepel ran seven miles, rode 20 miles and swam one mile through 12-foot waves, winning the Xterra World Championship on the Hawaiian Island of Maui for her division.
“I love to compete and I am a competitive person,” she said. “I love being able to get by people in a race. I push myself to get by a person even if they are not in my division. It’s a thrill to me, along with being on the podium. I have won the Xterra World Championship competition seven times.”
Toepel is an off-road triathlon competitor in the 65-to-69-year-old division. Although she does not compete at the pro level, but she works professionally as a triathlon coach.
Toepel has been biking since she was six. She started road biking when she was 35 and didn’t start mountain biking until she was 52. When she was 50 she did her first Ironman, where the bike ride is 112 miles, the swim is 2.4 miles and the run is 26 miles.
The Xterras are less distance, a one-mile swim, 20-mile bike ride and seven-mile run.
“It may be less distance but they are not easier,” Toepel said. “There is a 3,500-foot elevation gain in the mountain biking course.”
She has been doing the Xterras since 2003.
Toepel said doing triathlons has been a big part of her, and her husband Circ Toepel, life since they met.
“I have been married for 35 years and I did triathlons with my husband in the 80s,” she said. “We have both been athletic most of our lives. He no longer runs, due to his back being fused, but he still rides.”
The couple mountain bike together when Cindi is not competing.
“We love mountain biking in Colorado and have been to Fruita a lot,” she said. “One reason we moved to Nevada was because of all the BLM land to explore. We love to travel around and discover places to ride.”
Toepel has not slowed down since getting older. She does seven of the Xterra-type competitions each year.
“I do have the energy but I have found as I have aged that it takes more time for my body to recover,” Cindi Toepel said. “I coach other athletes on how to compete, and it helps me because I am always thinking about what I have to do to keep going.”
Cindi Toepel loves the adrenalin rush and does it for the love of the sport.
As she aged, she has found out what her body can do under triathlon conditions. She said she learned through trial and error. Some days are better than others at her age.
Complete and original Pahrump article here
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